Kazakhstan Birding Tours

Overview: Central Asia

Kazakhstan birding tours: You might not know it yet, but Kazakhstan is one of the most underrated birding destinations in the world.

Spread over 9th largest country in the world, Kazakhstan boasts an incredible 520+ bird species, including many interesting species .

That’s where the magic happens. You’ll spot You’ll spot rare birds like the Greater Flamingo, Red-breasted Goose, White-headed Duck, Griffon Vulture, Imperial Eagle, Saker, Black Grouse, Siberian White Crane, Great and Little Bustard, Sociable Lapwing, Pallas’s, and even white winged larks among many more.

That’s a lot of bird species, but Kazakhstan’s diverse landscapes and 34,500 lakes are just the beginning.

We’re talking prime birding sites like Korgalzhyn Lake, Alakol Lake, Tengis Lake, Balkash Lake, Zaisan Lake and the Caspian and Aral Seas.

Our spring birding tour (April to late May) is the perfect time to capture the migration and see these beautiful birds up close.

We’ll explore the Almaty and Astana regions, visiting the Taukum Desert, Karakol, Charyn River, Kaskelen Valley, Khorgalzhyn Lake and Tengis Lakes.

You’ll be accompanied by a local guide with over 10 years of experience and a deep knowledge of the birds.

You’ll also get to experience the local culture and visit the top attractions. We take care of everything, so you can just focus on birding and enjoying your expedition.

Our Kazakhstan birding tours start in Almaty and end in Astana. Here’s a taste of what you can expect:

Itinerary:

We’ll meet you at Almaty International Airport and transfer you to your hotel. Take some time to explore the city and enjoy a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.

The Charyn Canyon is one of Kazakhstan’s most beautiful attractions. It is also a prime location for observing blue rock thrushes in their natural habitat.

We’ll stay at a tourist camp in the national park and take you to the birding areas each day.

You’ll spot birds like the White-capped Bunting, Steppe Eagle, Lesser Kestrel, Desert Wheatear, Grey-necked Bunting, and even the elusive black crowned night heron and more.

This desert is home to a stunning array of birds, including the Black-bellied Sandgrouse, MacQueen’s Bustard, Great Sand Plover, Caspian Plover, Brown-necked Raven, Long-legged Buzzard and many more.

The Taukum Desert is also a key habitat for the golden eagle and Asian Desert Warbler, adding to the region’s rich avifauna.

We’ll explore the delta of the Ili River and the sands of Taukum.

Birdwatchers can also look forward to spotting the elusive white-winged woodpecker and the striking black winged stilt in the Taukum Desert, making it a prime destination for observing rare species.

We’ll visit the capital city and the Khorgalzhyn Lake, where you can see birds like the Red-headed Bunting, Grey-crowned Goldfinch, White-crowned Penduline Tit, Azure Tit, Siberian Meadow Bunting, Blue Whistling Thrush and many more.

At Khorgalzhyn Lake, you can also observe red headed buntings, white-winged black terns, and the black headed penduline tit in their glorious breeding plumage.

You’re heading to Kazakhstan for an unforgettable birdwatching adventure. Khorgalzhyn Lake is also home to white-headed ducks and red footed falcons , adding to the rich avifauna of the region.

You’ll drive back to Astana, the capital city of Kazakhstan and one of Central Asia’s fastest-growing metropolises.

After breakfast, you’ll be transferred to your hotel in the city centre. That evening, we’ll have a farewell dinner together as a team.

The following day, your Astana guide will drop you back at the airport. We’re grateful you could join us.

Thank you for coming!

Kazakhstan Birding Tour

Duration: 10-Days
Availability: Spring
Best time: April, May
Begin and end: Almaty / Astana
Tour type: Bird Watching
Price from: 1500 USD p.p

Our highlights

Charyn Canyon National Park, Charyn River
Taukum Desert, Balkash River
Korgalzhyn Nature Reserve

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Tour Price Includes

Transportation + fuel
Experienced driver
English speaking guide
All permits and fees
Eat & Drinks
All activities
Accommodation
Domestic flight Almaty-Astana

Tour price excludes

Personal needs
Alcoholic beverages
Gratitude

Tour details:

We’ll be having Kazakhstan birding tours in the wilderness, so pack accordingly. Check the weather forecast and bring a daypack. Don’t forget your camera and phone fully charged.

You’ll also need binoculars, sunglasses, sunscreen, a waterproof jacket, hiking boots, hand sanitizer, mosquito cream, toiletries—and some cash for shopping and souvenirs.

The breathtaking flower-rich alpine meadows in the Tien Shan Mountains are a must-see, so be prepared for some hiking.

Most attractions have their own toilet facilities. If you’re driving between places or hiking, you might use an outdoor toilet. But generally, you won’t have any issues.

Hotels and guesthouses usually have showers. Laundry can be done with the help of the hotel staff.

Anyone who loves cultural tours, beautiful nature, historical sites and adventure is welcome to join us.

This is one of the best-planned expeditions out there, with plenty of hidden gems like the flower filled meadows for everyone to enjoy.

Birdwatchers will be thrilled to spot the rare yellow-eyed pigeon and the yellow breasted tit in Kazakhstan, among other unique species.

Please be respectful of local traditions and dress modestly when visiting the mausoleum, mosque and other sacred sites.

Be ready to leave on time and let your guide know if there are any issues. We want you to enjoy the trip and the company of our team.

We’ll take care of getting you to all the places on our itinerary. We’ll guide you with passion and make sure you have an amazing expedition.

We can’t be held responsible for any unplanned issues during the tour. We can’t control the city traffic or the weather. But we can prepare you for that.

– We recommend booking your Kazakhstan birding tours as soon as possible. To ensure everything runs smoothly, we need at least two months’ notice.

– If any of the attractions are closed, we’ll replace them with other highlights that are just as exciting.

-The tour is flexible, and we can tailor it to your wishes.

Kazakhstan birding tours is available all year round, but the best time is from the end of March to November. It’s warm during this period, but in the mountains, it can get chilly due to the altitude. Pack a warm jacket just in case.

To secure your spot, we need a 600 USD deposit. The balance is due two months before the tour starts. We prefer bank transfers (SWIFT CODE).

Here is our cancellation policy that we recommend our clients follow.

Cancelling the tour within more than 2 months, 50% of your deposit payment will be rebussed (300 USD)

Cancellation within less than 1 month, the deposit will not be refunded (600 USD)

We’ll take care of that too.

Accommodation on our expeditions is based on local standards. That means you’ll experience a range of places to stay-from a 4-star hotel in the capital to guesthouses in small villages.

You’ll also get to try out traditional yurts and lodges. We handpick the best options for you.

Meals are a highlight of the expedition. You’ll get to sample the delicious dishes of Central Asia-and there are plenty to choose from.

We guarantee you’ll find something you love. If you’re vegetarian or vegan, you’ll have plenty of options.

Most restaurants have their own veggie and vegan dishes. On some days, we’ll take our lunches with us and eat in the middle of nowhere-as we drive from one attraction to the next.

That’s when you’ll really feel like you’re in the heart of Central Asia.

You’ll have plenty of fresh bottled water, and our team will always be happy to grab you a cold drink-whether that’s a snake (or a soda, or whatever you like).

You won’t need to bring any stomach medicine with you. Our clients almost never have problems with the local food.

That’s because the food here is fresh, delicious-and often made with love by the families we visit.

You’ll be looked after by our Kazakhstan birding tours leader, who’ll be with you throughout the expedition.

You’ll also have local guides in each country, and an experienced driver who’ll get you safely from one place to another. We’ll visit several families in each country and enjoy their hospitality.

And you’ll make some wonderful friends along the way. Central Asian countries are known for their warm hospitality and welcoming nature.